Using Heathrow Airport [Questions & Reviews]

[Rossco]

Hi

Thanks for the replies. So yes that does sound like you are on one booking and therefore when you go to the BA check in desks at EDI they will check your bags on to the DOH flight. When you get to LHR you won't have to see your bags again.

In terms of the connection, it is now under the minimum connection time for a T5 to T4 connection. When time changes happen to a flight they don't always take in to account other flights on the booking, so your EDI-LHR has changed but it won't automatically change anything and notice it is now under the minimum connection time. The danger is at some point the system will pick up on this and cancel your other flight or rebook you on something else. You do need to sort this out before you travel, and I guess the easiest option will be to change to an earlier EDI-LHR flight. As you booked with a travel agent you will have to deal with them unfortunately. However, your change to an earlier EDI flight will be free. Mention to them explicitly that due to the time change you are now under the MCT for the connection and therefore they must rebook you.

In terms of the actual mechanics of the connection, this should be fairly straightforward. You will arrive in to the domestic gates at the north end of T5A. When you step off the jetbridge turn left and follow the purple signs for "Flight Connections T2,3,4" At some point when you walk along a Heathrow airport person will just ask to see your bp just to check you are heading in the correct direction. Once past that keep walking along and around 100m down you will see signs showing you to to go down an escalator on the left for connections to T234. Go down there and get the airside bus to T4. Once at T4 you will go through connection security and once that is done you will be in the airside departures area. From stepping off the plan the process should take around 35-50 minutes.

It's possible you will arrive on a remote stand and be bussed but you will be bussed to the ground floor around the same part of T5A, so just go upstairs when you enter the building (don't go out through the glass doors) and follow the same as above.

The trains thing would only be if on arrival you existed landside and then went across to T4, which you could do but I wouldn't recommend in your case.

Hope this helps.

This is extremely helpful and really appreciated. You all have been more helpful than any of the travel companies we've spoken to. I also contacted Heathrow through the website but it was a fairly standard response I got (they recommended using the Heathrow Express and the underground).

Once again, many thanks for all the help.

 

[Scottie Dog]

I'm sure I speak on behalf of the team when I say that were glad you've received thehelp you need.
If you get time, as you're travelling to post your experience, in here, I'm sure it will be much appreciated.

Scottie Dog

 

[Rossco]

I'm sure I speak on behalf of the team when I say that were glad you've received thehelp you need.
If you get time, as you're travelling to post your experience, in here, I'm sure it will be much appreciated.

Scottie Dog

Yep, absolutely I will do that. Just drafted the email to TravelUp

Once again, many thanks for the help.

 

[Rossco]

Just wanted to give a massive thank you again to everyone. Going by the advice provided here, we contacted the travel agent and they have now changed our flight schedule where we are now flying direct from EDI to DOH, so as it turns out there will be no stop over at LHR.

Once again, many thanks for all the help.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

A much simpler journey for you. You can now get on the plane and relax, without having to worry about a frantic dash across LHR. I'm guessing that you are flying with Qatar airways, a first rate airline. As such, you should get excellent in flight service, along with a plentiful selection of movies/TV shows and great food. Have a great trip.

 

[Bikerjodie]

Hi all, I've joined the forum to ask this specific question, so thanks for the welcome and I'll say thank you for those that will help to answer my question.

I'm flying from Glasgow to Heathrow and I would like to optimise the time in the lounge prior to my international flight, I fly into T5 on the domestic route and T5 on the international flight.

I am very fortunate in that I had enough avios to book a first class flight, so my questions is do I stay inside T5 and go to the main terminal building to the lounges, or would I be better exiting the airport and coming back in again, experiencing the dedicated BA first check in and access straight to the BA lounge? Big problems I know, but with this being my first time flying in this manner, I would like to optimise the time I can in the lounge.

Your help is appreciated.

regards

 

[KARFA]

Hi

So I am assuming this GLA-LHR-xxx is all one booking any checked bags you have will be checked through and you won't have to see them at LHR.

In which case I would stay airside unless you have a specific need to go landside - so perhaps you want to go for a smoke or perhaps you have a long connection and want to stretch your legs and go somewhere for a wander in between flights (e.g. Windsor). However, other than that I would stay airside.

If your onward flight is from T5 as well the advantage is you won't have to do security again at LHR - just follow the signs for flight connections T5, there is a bp check at the automatic gates and then you go up the escalator in to the airside departures area. The domestic flights come in the north end of T5A so the domestic connection point is at that end. If you arrive on a remote stand and get bussed to T5A you will enter on the ground floor so just go up the stairs/lift and then along to the same connection point.

If you go landside, you can head up to floor 3 and the other (south) end of T5A and to the first wing. There is a dedicated check in and security there, but I wouldn't say it is worth you exiting landside just to experience that - especially as staying airside means you won't have to do security at all.

Now in terms of the lounge you can use the Concorde Room as you are in F. So if you stay airside once you enter the airside departures area turn right and follow the signs to the South Lounges (around gates A18/A19), up the escalator one floor, right when you enter the lobby area, and you will see the entry desk in front of you. The first wing security actually exits in to the Galleries First lounge rather than the Concorde Room, so if you did go landside you would go through that lounge, exit in to that same lobby area, and across to the Concorde Room.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[Bikerjodie]

Karfa

Thank you for such an in-depth response, that's very helpful.

We are on the one booking and there's no need for us to go landslide. The onward flight is indeed T5 and most likely to be the B gates. I'll stay airside and follow your directions from the north side to the south to get to the lounge.

I liked the advice on the lounge as some posts I had been reading suggested the lounges were quite difficult to find!

Thanks again.

 

[COB21]

Hi Guys

I would value your input with regard to the following.

In February 2025, I will be flying in to Heathrow Terminal 2 at 06.40 with Thai Airways.

I have a connecting British Airways UK domestic flight to Jersey, in the Channel Islands, departing at 08.40.

As there is no code share arrangement between the 2 airlines, and therefore I cannot check my baggage all the way through when I depart Bangkok, I don't think I will have sufficient time to make the domestic flight.

If you believe this to be correct, please could I have your thoughts on whether I am better to change the return leg of my domestic flight to later in the day - unfortunately, the next flight is not until 15.30 :-( - or book a one way Heathrow>Jersey ticket and leave the 08.40 flight in place in case by some miracle I managed to make the flight?

Your guidance is most appreciated!

 

[KARFA]

Yes so this is tightish as you are on two tickets. You would have to go through immigration at t2, wait for and collect your bags, take either the hex&elizabeth line or the tube to t5 (tube is better as it is closer to t2), check your bag in no later than -45 minutes before scheduled departure, and hit security no less than -35 minutes before scheduled departure.

If everything goes well and your bag comes out quickly it would be tight, but you don’t need much to throw this off course. A significant passport queue (could be worse if you can’t use egates) or a wait for bags may be enough to mess this up. I think you would be better off booking the later JER flight - I know it’s annoying that you would have a long wait. Also Sod’s Law if you book the later one your Thai flight will be early and you could have made it.

 

[COB21]

Many thanks Karfa! Unfortunately, you have confirmed my fears.

What are your thoughts on me booking an additional one way Heathrow>Jersey flight for the 15.30 flight and leaving the return leg of my Heathrow>Jersey 08.40 flight as it is, rather than amending it, in case I did get in early? Or will me having two flights booked with the same carrier on the same day cause any issues?

 

[KARFA]

no issue having a booking on each of the two flights that day - ba won't cancel any of them.

i assume your booking for the 0840 is the last sector in that booking? if you no show for it, any other remaining flights in the booking would be cancelled, but if it is the last booking that won't be an issue.

 

[COB21]

Thank you for your continued guidance Karfa.

The 08.40 is indeed the final leg of the booking.

Maybe a one way LHR>JER booking for the afternoon flight is the way to go then, as a back up to the slim chance of me making the 08.40 flight.